GETTING TO KNOW…..REBECCA WADE

4/14/2020

High School you attended:

Ursuline Academy (Dallas, Texas), 2007

College you attended:

Rice University, 2012

Major in College:

Psychology, Sociology, and History

Current Occupation:

Running & Writing - In addition to my book (Run the World, published in 2016), I do freelance writing for outlets such as Runner’s World, Outside Mag, PodiumRunner, and more. I also blog at beckyrunsaway.com and mainly write about running, travel, and food.

Tell us about your Olympic Trials experience in Atlanta:

My race in Atlanta was a pretty positive experience. I moved up from 40-something a couple of miles in to 16th at the finish. While of course I would have liked to finished higher (who besides the winner doesn’t?), it was a well-executed race and also a lot of fun. Huge props to the Atlanta Track Club for hosting and orchestrating our massive field!

How did you start running?

Ironically, my former college football playing dad introduced my siblings and I to running. We loved joining him for neighborhood loops when we were in middle school, and 100% did the fun runs for the t-shirts. My love took off from there!

What were your best track times in high school?

I was mostly a 300-meter hurdler in high school, and I believe my best time was 46.XX (don’t remember exactly). I only ran the 1600 and 3200 for one season, and my PRs were 5:07 and 11:0X (also a little fuzzy).

#1 High School highlight?

Finishing 2nd in State (TAPPS, Texas’ private school league) in cross-country, the 1600m, and the 3200m

What were your best track times in college?

3000m Steeplechase: 9:485000m: 15:57
10,000m: 32:40

#1 College highlight?

Running in the Olympic Track Trials (steeplechase) in a Rice singlet

#1 professional highlight?

Traveling the world as a Watson Fellow for one year right out of college, researching running cultures and training styles in almost 2 dozen countries, and then publishing a book about that journey in 2016 (Run the World: My 3,500-Mile Journey through Running Cultures around the Globe)

Something unique about you that we might not know about you?

I’m part of 2 sets of twins, just one grade apart (both boy-girl sets)